Best Ways to Purify Water When Off the Grid?

[BlueMarigold]

When living off the grid, reliable water purification is top of the list for me. I’ve got experience with Berkey filters and DIY slow-sand setups, but wondering if anyone trusts UV pens or has had good results with solar disinfection methods (SODIS) for larger volumes? Boiling’s great but not always practical when conserving fuel. Anyone tried gravity filters long-term or rigged up rainwater systems with built-in purification? Would love to hear what’s held up for you folks in real-world use.

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

When living off the grid, reliable water purification is top of the list for me. I’ve got experience with Berkey filters and DIY slow-sand setups, but wondering if anyone trusts UV pens or has had good results with solar disinfection methods (SODIS) for larger volumes?

UV pens are handy for quick, small batches, but I just don’t trust them for larger volumes or cloudy water—it’s too easy to miss something if the water isn’t clear enough. I’ve used SODIS for emergencies, but waiting that long on cloudy days can be risky. Honestly, I still lean on gravity filters like Berkey for everyday use, especially when you need several gallons. Have you found any way to speed up SODIS for bigger batches or when the weather doesn’t cooperate?